Plug Power to collaborate with Atlas Copco Gas; SoCalGas to supply LA with green hydrogen

Plug Power Inc. has signed a collaboration agreement with Atlas Copco Mafi-Trench Company LLC (the turboexpander technology centre within the Gas and Process division of Atlas Copco) and Fives (a global leader in brazed heat exchangers and cryogenic cold boxes) to jointly develop hydrogen liquefaction plants (also known as hydrogen liquefiers).

Plug Power, Atlas Copco Gas and Process and Fives will address some of the biggest needs facing the liquid hydrogen production industry, such as improving hydrogen liquefiers’ efficiency, cost, and lead time.

This new collaboration adds the deep technical and manufacturing experience of Atlas Copco and Fives as key suppliers to enable Plug Power to successfully deliver hydrogen liquefiers into its growing fleet of green hydrogen production plants and also for sale to third parties looking to adopt highly efficient liquid hydrogen systems.

Under the agreement, Plug Power will design, manufacture, install, operate and maintain hydrogen liquefiers for its own use and for third parties. Atlas Copco Gas and Process will design and manufacture custom turboexpanders and compressors related to the hydrogen liquefaction plants. Fives will manufacture the brazed aluminium heat exchangers and optimise their integration in cold boxes.

The collaboration is a step in our pledge at Atlas Copco Gas and Process to support decarbonisation and net zero emissions by 2050.

Plug Power acquired Joule Processing LLC last month, which has a strong track record of execution among the largest EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) and oil and gas midstream companies. The proven cryogenic process technology that Joule developed for the gas processing industry is directly applicable to hydrogen liquefaction and can reduce the cost of liquified hydrogen by 25%.

SoCalGas to develop US largest green hydrogen project

Southern California Gas Co. proposed to develop what would be the nation’s largest green hydrogen energy infrastructure system (the Angeles Link) to deliver clean, reliable renewable energy to the Los Angeles region.

As the nation’s largest manufacturing hub, the Los Angeles Basin is home to many potential green hydrogen users. As proposed, Angeles Link’s green hydrogen could:

• Displace up to 3 million gallons of diesel fuel per day by replacing diesel-powered heavy-duty trucks with hydrogen fuel cell trucks
• Eliminate up to nearly 25,000 tons of smog-forming NOx per year
• Provide the clean fuel to convert up to four natural gas power plants to green hydrogen

Angeles Link will help position the US among global leaders in green hydrogen development. The Green Hydrogen Coalition appreciates SoCalGas’ leadership in facilitating access to high volume, low-cost green hydrogen to accelerate California’s economy-wide clean energy transition.

HyDeal Los Angeles, an initiative of the Green Hydrogen Coalition, a non-profit organisation supported by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), SoCalGas, Mitsubishi Power, and others, aims to make green hydrogen cost-competitive with traditional fuels, and achieve at-scale green hydrogen procurement at $1.50/kilogram in the LA Basin by 2030.